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MANY women seeking help from a GP for the menopause have to wait over a year — and in some cases more than five years — to get treatment, new research suggests.
A survey of more than 5,000 women carried out for menopause medic Dr Louise Newson, who runs the not-for-profit Newson Health Research & Education organisation, has found that only a third of those who visited the GP for their symptoms were given treatment.
Women can begin to experience symptoms including hot flushes, anxiety and low moods years before the menopause starts.
Of those who did undergo treatment, 44 per cent had waited at least one year and 12 per cent had waited more than five years, while of those given treatment 37 per cent of women received hormone replacement therapy (HRT) —while 23 per cent were given antidepressants, which is against health guidelines.
“We are seeing a greater appetite from medical professionals, especially in primary care, to learn more about managing the menopause. This can’t come soon enough for women who are struggling,” Dr Newson said.
